Google Cast App Rebranded to Coincide With Impending Launch of Google Home - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Google Cast App Rebranded to Coincide With Impending Launch of Google Home

by

Google has officially rebranded its "Google Cast" iOS and Android apps to "Google Home," getting the mobile apps ready for the launch of its hands-free smart home speaker, similarly named Google Home. The new name also comes with a new app icon, new features, and some slight UI tweaks that make "the app easier to use."

google-home-1

The old Google Cast icon (left) compared with the new Google Home version (right)

The "Home" launchpad in the app now has a "Watch" and "Discover" section that lets you watch videos on any of the Chromecast-enabled apps you already have installed, or discover thousands of new apps available for Chromecast, respectively. Additionally, a floating magnifying glass button enables video search across multiple apps to make it easy to find the videos you want.

Once Google Home launches next week, on November 4, the new app will be the single location for users to control all of their Chromecast and Google Home devices. A "Devices" button in the top right corner will guide users through easily pairing a new product to the app, and after pairing is complete they can adjust its settings, control audio and video playback, and more.

google-home-2
Google Home is available to download for free from the iOS App Store [Direct Link], and users can pre-order the Google Home smart speaker itself for $129.00 from the Google Store, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart.

Top Rated Comments

69Mustang Avatar
125 months ago
Not a fan of the connected home, but the Chromecast... yep, that little booger is one of the best tech purchases I've made in a long time. The fact that it's definitely the cheapest makes it even better.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
smacrumon Avatar
125 months ago
Only thing I half like about Google is its branding. But really the branding is just a trojan horse into a world of no privacy, bloatware and advertising. Stay clean, stay superior, Apple.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Photos App Icon Liquid Glass

Google Says Pixel Phones Won't Get Apple's Liquid Glass Design

Wednesday May 6, 2026 1:57 pm PDT by
The Android operating system for Pixel smartphones is not going to take design cues from Apple and adopt a Liquid Glass aesthetic, Google Android president Sameer Samat said recently (via 9to5Google). In response to a social media mockup of an Android device with a Liquid Glass design, Samat said, "Not happening! Y'all are wild." The mockup was in response to a teaser video for The Android...
Google Logo Feature Slack

Google Search AI Mode Gets 'Expert Advice' From Reddit and Social Media

Wednesday May 6, 2026 3:33 pm PDT by
Google is updating its AI search results to incorporate a "preview of perspectives" sourced from public online discussions and social media. The results sourced from places like Reddit and online forums are sometimes labeled as "Expert Advice," per Google's screenshots. Google says that the section could have different titles like "Community Perspectives" depending on the query and the...
gemini for mac app google

Google Maps for CarPlay Getting Gemini AI

Monday May 11, 2026 4:25 pm PDT by
The Google Maps app for CarPlay could soon include support for Gemini, based on code that MacRumors found in the Google Maps app. Gemini integration would allow CarPlay users to get detailed directions and information from Gemini. Strings in the app suggest users will be able to tell Gemini to navigate to a specific location after agreeing to new Terms of Service in the iPhone version of the ...

🔗 Related Apple News & Rumors

Stay updated with the latest Apple ecosystem news and verified rumors